The Lao alphabet to copy, letter by letter: the 27 consonants in order, each with its sound and the word it is named after, the six pairs made with ຫ, the vowel signs and tone marks shown on ກ, and the digits.
Read the full guide
A word for every consonant
Each consonant is named after a word with the letter in it: ກ is the k of ໄກ່, chicken, and ຂ the kh of ໄຂ່, egg. The words tell apart letters that share a sound. Every consonant is also high, middle or low; that class, the tone mark and the length of the vowel set the tone of a syllable.
Signs go round the consonant
A vowel sign goes in front of the consonant, after it, over it or under it: ເກ, ກາ, ກິ, ກຸ. A syllable that begins with a vowel puts the sign on the silent ອ. Lao runs left to right, without capital letters and, by tradition, without spaces between words.
ໄກ່, chicken, is three characters: the vowel sign ໄ, the consonant ກ and the tone mark ່.
A silent ຫ before ງ, ຍ, ນ, ມ, ລ or ວ lifts the low-class letter to the high class; ໜ and ໝ are single characters.
Unicode names ຝ and ຟ the wrong way round, and ຣ and ລ too. A character name is never changed.
Questions and answers
How many letters are in the Lao alphabet?
27 consonants. The script also counts 33 vowels, written with the signs shown here on ກ, and 4 tone marks, and it has digits of its own.
Is the Lao alphabet the same as the Thai alphabet?
No. The two are sister scripts with shared roots and many similarities, but Lao has fewer characters and rounder shapes.
Does Lao have a letter for r?
Yes, ຣ. It was dropped in a language reform because most speakers said it as l, came back as foreign names entered the vocabulary, and is now taught in schools.
What are the Lao tone marks?
There are four, each written over a consonant: ກ່ mai ek, ກ້ mai tho, ກ໊ mai ti and ກ໋ mai catawa, under their Unicode names.
All 68 letters
Consonants 27
ບb, goatU+0E9A Lao letter bo. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 14 of 27, middle class. Named after ແບ້, goat (IPA bɛ̑ː). At the start of a syllable b (IPA b); at the end p (IPA p).
ຈch, glassU+0E88 Lao letter co. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 5 of 27, middle class. Named after ຈອກ, glass (IPA tɕɔ̏ːk). At the start of a syllable ch (IPA tɕ); it does not end a syllable.
ດd, childU+0E94 Lao letter do. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 9 of 27, middle class. Named after ເດັກ, child (IPA dék). At the start of a syllable d (IPA d); at the end t (IPA t).
ຟf, fireU+0E9F Lao letter fo sung. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 19 of 27, low class. Named after ໄຟ, fire (IPA fáj). At the start of a syllable f (IPA f); it does not end a syllable. Unicode notes that its character name is a mistake and belongs to the other letter of the pair.
Show all 68 letters (64 more)
Consonants, continued
ຝf, rainU+0E9D Lao letter fo tam. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 17 of 27, high class. Named after ຝົນ, rain (IPA fǒn). At the start of a syllable f (IPA f); it does not end a syllable. Unicode notes that its character name is a mistake and belongs to the other letter of the pair.
ຫh, gooseU+0EAB Lao letter ho sung. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 25 of 27, high class. Named after ຫ່ານ, goose (IPA hāːn). At the start of a syllable h (IPA h); it does not end a syllable.
ຮh, houseU+0EAE Lao letter ho tam. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 27 of 27, low class. Named after ເຮືອນ, house (IPA hɯ́an). At the start of a syllable h (IPA h); it does not end a syllable.
ກk, chickenU+0E81 Lao letter ko. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 1 of 27, middle class. Named after ໄກ່, chicken (IPA kāj). At the start of a syllable k (IPA k); at the end k (IPA k).
ຂkh, eggU+0E82 Lao letter kho sung. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 2 of 27, high class. Named after ໄຂ່, egg (IPA kʰāj). At the start of a syllable kh (IPA kʰ or x); it does not end a syllable.
ຄkh, water buffaloU+0E84 Lao letter kho tam. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 3 of 27, low class. Named after ຄວາຍ, water buffalo (IPA kʰwáːj). At the start of a syllable kh (IPA kʰ or x); it does not end a syllable.
ລl, monkeyU+0EA5 Lao letter lo loot. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 23 of 27, low class. Named after ລີງ, monkey (IPA líːŋ). At the start of a syllable l (IPA l); it does not end a syllable. Unicode notes that its character name is a mistake and belongs to the other letter of the pair.
ມm, catU+0EA1 Lao letter mo. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 20 of 27, low class. Named after ແມວ, cat (IPA mɛ́ːw). At the start of a syllable m (IPA m); at the end m (IPA m).
ນn, birdU+0E99 Lao letter no. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 13 of 27, low class. Named after ນົກ, bird (IPA nòk). At the start of a syllable n (IPA n); at the end n (IPA n).
ງng, oxU+0E87 Lao letter ngo. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 4 of 27, low class. Named after ງົວ, ox (IPA ŋúa). At the start of a syllable ng (IPA ŋ); at the end ng (IPA ŋ).
ຍny, mosquitoU+0E8D Lao letter nyo. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 8 of 27, low class. Named after ຍຸງ, mosquito (IPA ɲúŋ). At the start of a syllable ny (IPA ɲ); at the end i (IPA j).
ປp, fishU+0E9B Lao letter po. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 15 of 27, middle class. Named after ປາ, fish (IPA pàː). At the start of a syllable p (IPA p); it does not end a syllable.
ຜph, beeU+0E9C Lao letter pho sung. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 16 of 27, high class. Named after ເຜິ້ງ, bee (IPA pʰɤ̏ŋ). At the start of a syllable ph (IPA pʰ); it does not end a syllable.
ພph, mountainU+0E9E Lao letter pho tam. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 18 of 27, low class. Named after ພູ, mountain (IPA pʰúː). At the start of a syllable ph (IPA pʰ); it does not end a syllable.
ຣr, carU+0EA3 Lao letter lo ling. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 22 of 27, low class. Named after ຣົຖ, car (IPA ròt). At the start of a syllable r (IPA r or l); at the end n (IPA n). Unicode notes that its character name is a mistake and belongs to the other letter of the pair.
ຊs, elephantU+0E8A Lao letter so tam. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 7 of 27, low class. Named after ຊ້າງ, elephant (IPA sâːŋ). At the start of a syllable s (IPA s); it does not end a syllable.
ສs, tigerU+0EAA Lao letter so sung. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 6 of 27, high class. Named after ເສືອ, tiger (IPA sɯ̌a). At the start of a syllable s (IPA s); it does not end a syllable.
ອsilent, bowlU+0EAD Lao letter o. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 26 of 27, middle class. Named after ໂອ, bowl (IPA ʔòː). A null consonant (IPA ʔ): a vowel cannot stand alone, so one that begins a syllable is written on this letter.
ຕt, eyeU+0E95 Lao letter to. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 10 of 27, middle class. Named after ຕາ, eye (IPA tàː). At the start of a syllable t (IPA t); it does not end a syllable.
ທth, flagU+0E97 Lao letter tho tam. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 12 of 27, low class. Named after ທຸງ, flag (IPA tʰúŋ). At the start of a syllable th (IPA tʰ); it does not end a syllable.
ຖth, stockingU+0E96 Lao letter tho sung. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 11 of 27, high class. Named after ຖົງ, stocking (IPA tʰǒŋ). At the start of a syllable th (IPA tʰ); it does not end a syllable.
ວw, fanU+0EA7 Lao letter wo. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 24 of 27, low class. Named after ວີ, fan (IPA wíː). At the start of a syllable w (IPA w); at the end o (IPA w).
ຢy, medicineU+0EA2 Lao letter yo. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. Consonant 21 of 27, middle class. Named after ຢາ, medicine (IPA jàː). At the start of a syllable y (IPA j); it does not end a syllable.
Pairs with ຫ 6
ຫຼhigh lU+0EAB U+0EBC Lao letter ho sung with Lao semivowel sign lo. The small sign under ຫ stands for ລ; also written ຫລ. The silent ຫ in front makes a high-class consonant of the low-class ລ: l (IPA l), as in ຫຼັງ, back.
ໝhigh mU+0EDD Lao ho mo. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. One character for ຫ and ມ; also written ຫມ. The silent ຫ in front makes a high-class consonant of the low-class ມ: m (IPA m), as in ໝາ, dog.
ໜhigh nU+0EDC Lao ho no. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. One character for ຫ and ນ; also written ຫນ. The silent ຫ in front makes a high-class consonant of the low-class ນ: n (IPA n), as in ໜູ, rat.
ຫງhigh ngU+0EAB U+0E87 Lao letter ho sung and Lao letter ngo. The silent ຫ in front makes a high-class consonant of the low-class ງ: ng (IPA ŋ), as in ເຫງົາ, lonely.
ຫຍhigh nyU+0EAB U+0E8D Lao letter ho sung and Lao letter nyo. The silent ຫ in front makes a high-class consonant of the low-class ຍ: ny (IPA ɲ), as in ຫຍ້າ, grass.
ຫວhigh wU+0EAB U+0EA7 Lao letter ho sung and Lao letter wo. The silent ຫ in front makes a high-class consonant of the low-class ວ: w (IPA w), as in ແຫວນ, ring.
Vowel signs on ກ 18
ກະkaU+0E81 U+0EB0 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign a. The sign is written after the consonant. A short vowel, a (IPA aʔ or a).
ກາkāU+0E81 U+0EB2 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign aa. The sign is written after the consonant. A long vowel, ā (IPA aː).
ກັka, mai kanU+0E81 U+0EB1 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign mai kan. The sign is written over the consonant. The short vowel a (IPA a) when a consonant closes the syllable; at the end of a syllable it is written ະ. The sign is named ໄມ້ກັນ.
ໄກkai, mai mayU+0EC4 U+0E81 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign ai. The sign is written in front of the consonant. The vowel ai (IPA aj). The sign is named ໄມ້ມາຍ, unwound stem.
ໃກkai, mai muanU+0EC3 U+0E81 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign ay. The sign is written in front of the consonant. The vowel ai (IPA aj), the same sound as ໄ. The sign is named ໄມ້ມ້ວນ, rolled stem.
ກຳkamU+0E81 U+0EB3 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign am. The sign is written after the consonant. The vowel am (IPA am). One character for the ring ໍ and the sign າ.
ເກkēU+0EC0 U+0E81 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign e. The sign is written in front of the consonant. A long vowel, ē (IPA eː).
ກິkiU+0E81 U+0EB4 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign i. The sign is written over the consonant. A short vowel, i (IPA i).
ກີkīU+0E81 U+0EB5 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign ii. The sign is written over the consonant. A long vowel, ī (IPA iː).
ກຽkīa, nyo fyangU+0E81 U+0EBD Lao letter ko with Lao semivowel sign nyo. The sign is written after the consonant. The vowel īa (IPA ia) when a consonant closes the syllable. The sign is named ວິລາມ.
ໂກkōU+0EC2 U+0E81 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign o. The sign is written in front of the consonant. A long vowel, ō (IPA oː).
ກໍkǭU+0E81 U+0ECD Lao letter ko with Lao niggahita. The small ring is written over the consonant. A long vowel, ǭ (IPA ɔː), when it ends the syllable; the mark is named ນິກຄະຫິດ.
ກົko, mai kongU+0E81 U+0EBB Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign mai kon. The sign is written over the consonant. The short vowel o (IPA o) when a consonant closes the syllable. The sign is named ໄມ້ກົງ, straight stem.
ກຸkuU+0E81 U+0EB8 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign u. The sign is written under the consonant. A short vowel, u (IPA u).
ກູkūU+0E81 U+0EB9 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign uu. The sign is written under the consonant. A long vowel, ū (IPA uː).
ກຶkưU+0E81 U+0EB6 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign y. The sign is written over the consonant. A short vowel, ư (IPA ɯ).
ກືkư̄U+0E81 U+0EB7 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign yy. The sign is written over the consonant. A long vowel, ư̄ (IPA ɯː).
ແກkǣU+0EC1 U+0E81 Lao letter ko with Lao vowel sign ei. The sign is written in front of the consonant. A long vowel, ǣ (IPA ɛː).
Tone marks 4
ກ໋Mai catawaU+0E81 U+0ECB Lao letter ko with Lao tone mai catawa. Tone mark 4 of 4, written over the consonant. The tone of a syllable comes from the mark together with the class of the consonant and the length of the vowel.
ກ່Mai ekU+0E81 U+0EC8 Lao letter ko with Lao tone mai ek. Tone mark 1 of 4, written over the consonant. The tone of a syllable comes from the mark together with the class of the consonant and the length of the vowel.
ກ້Mai thoU+0E81 U+0EC9 Lao letter ko with Lao tone mai tho. Tone mark 2 of 4, written over the consonant. The tone of a syllable comes from the mark together with the class of the consonant and the length of the vowel.
ກ໊Mai tiU+0E81 U+0ECA Lao letter ko with Lao tone mai ti. Tone mark 3 of 4, written over the consonant. The tone of a syllable comes from the mark together with the class of the consonant and the length of the vowel.
Other signs 3
ກ໌Cancellation markU+0E81 U+0ECC Lao letter ko with Lao cancellation mark. An obsolete mark over a consonant that is written but not said.
ຯEllipsisU+0EAF Lao ellipsis. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. It marks words that were left out.
ໆKo la, repeatU+0EC6 Lao ko la. Lao block, Unicode 1.1. It says that the word before it is repeated.
How this list was compiled: Every character was checked against UnicodeData.txt, version 18.0.0 (https://www.unicode.org/Public/18.0.0/ucd/UnicodeData.txt): the code points and the character names in the notes come from that file, names in sentence case. Block names come from Blocks.txt (https://www.unicode.org/Public/18.0.0/ucd/Blocks.txt) and the Unicode version each character arrived in from DerivedAge.txt (https://www.unicode.org/Public/18.0.0/ucd/DerivedAge.txt), both version 18.0.0. Other names of a character come from NamesList.txt, version 18.0.0 (https://www.unicode.org/Public/18.0.0/ucd/NamesList.txt). Which letters are Lao's: the 27 consonants and the six pairs with ຫ are the index characters of CLDR's Lao locale (https://github.com/unicode-org/cldr/blob/main/common/main/lo.xml), in the same order, and every vowel sign, tone mark and other mark here is among its exemplar characters; the digits are in its auxiliary list. The order of the consonants, the word each is named after with its meaning, the tone class, the sounds in the International Phonetic Alphabet, the Latin spellings (the Library of Congress system, which marks a long vowel), the pairs with ຫ, the names of the vowel signs and the names of the digits follow Wikipedia's Lao script article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lao_script), restated in this site's own words. The names of the four tone marks are their Unicode names. Each vowel sign and tone mark tile is ກ with the sign added. The tile names (a sound and the meaning of the letter's name word) and the grouping are this site's own. Each tile was drawn on 2026-10-08 before it was kept, and all of them drew. All sources were read on 2026-10-08. Licence: own work